CELEBRATION OF LIGHT MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
HONDA CELEBRATION OF LIGHT: China, Brazil and Canada in fireworks competition
For its 25th anniversary edition this summer, the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition will host a trio of teams from three continents, as well as expanded booze service.
Details were illuminated at a launch event Tuesday night, and a representative of title sponsor Honda announced the three competing countries for the 2015 fireworks competition at Vancouver’s English Bay: China, Brazil and Canada.
Team China, described in a news release as “the modern birthplace of fireworks,” will light the festival’s first fuse on Saturday, July 25.
Team Brazil will put on a show on Wednesday, July 29.
And finally, the home country will close out the competition on Saturday, Aug. 1.
After announcing the countries, Steve Hui, Honda’s general manager for Western Canada, told The Province: “The 25-year milestone just goes to show you the strength of this … There’s no doubt about it. Vancouver and the fireworks, it goes hand-in-hand.”
Vancouver city councillor and acting Mayor Raymond Louie called the Honda Celebration of Light “part of our effort to make our city fun.”
Responding to customer demand, the Celebration of Light will expand its booze licensing for 2015.
The festival has offered alcohol sales since 2011 in licensed, reserved areas at the English Bay Bathhouse. This year will also see the addition of the licensed Inukshuk Lounge, described as a “quieter hosting experience for discerning guests.”
Another new feature, the Sunset Beach Bistro, will be a familyfriendly, licensed area with no tickets or reservations required.
There also will be live music each night in English Bay, with the SHOREfest free concert series headlined by reunited 1980s Toronto rock group Platinum Blonde. Other performers will be added to the lineup and announced by local radio station LG 104.3 FM.
Festival organizers say the Honda Celebration of Light attracts up to 400,000 spectators to English Bay each night, and contributes more than $37 million in tourism and hospitality spending each year.